Seriously. The blog. I'm just kind of talking to myself lately. Is anyone out there? :::mic squeals::: testing, testing. Hello? Can anyone hear me?
I've seen a lot of blogger friends go down to blogging once a week. I enjoy talking too much, I think.
I know I need to get out there and let other people know I'm alive. I just don't know where the time goes... hopefully everyone is off enjoying the summer as much as I am.
Maybe I should take the summer off.
There must be a point to this thing we call a blog. I've made a lot of internet friends, but perhaps I've made too many. I could make a full-time job out of reading everyone's blogs every day (if only it paid money). It's kind of a frustration, and I have no idea how the rest of you find time to write books, blogs, read blogs, read books, do reviews, critiques, jobs, housecleaning (okay, not so much), and be a parent/spouse/whatever.Let me in on your secret.
18 comments:
I post Monday-Friday and though I am a religous blogger it doesn't always follow through on the commenting. Much like you I don't have time to make this a full time gig. I go with the part I loved FIRST. Blogging is as fun as writing for me. I get to put my thoughts out on the web for people to read. I still have a TON of lurkers but just not as many who share their thoughts.
I figure it's a two way street. I can't expect them to comment if I don't take the time to comment on others. This is the first time in months I've had an open thirty minutes to write something thought provoking on someone else's blog.
Same, Jen. My second student of the morning couldn't make it, providing me w/ 30 min of time I didnt' know I'd have. So that's what I've done. Gone and commented on blogs. 45 min. later....I've got to get back to my day!
Early mornings and stolen moments. But, if it gets overwhelming, a break is good. I'll take off time in July and spend time with family.
I'm alive! I think... LOL
Tamara, don't worry too much about whether people comment or not. Sometimes people get busy, or just read your blog but don't leave a comment.
I decided to blog once a week, and even then, sometimes I take a break if things get too hectic. The cool thing with blogs is that you are the one deciding when to post and how frequently, and you can take vacations whenever you like. Too bad it doesn't pay, it would be the ideal job. ;)
I know what you mean, Tamara. I had to blog once a week through the spring. Between my kids' hectice schedule and trying to find time to work on my WIP I had to cut something.
Now that I'm off for the summer I hope to blog 2 or 3 times a week.
it's not so much worrying about people commenting as it is worrying about people reading my blog. Comments are nothing but an indicator of how many people are reading...and if no one's reading, well! I'll just write books instead!
It's all gung ho at first, so exciting, but after a while the blog-- or at least some kind of online venue-- becomes part of the job of being a writer. Everyone needs to find the pace that works. I was so gung ho I started a second blog, and that's the one I'm really contemplating WHY? My main blog has evolved and I've been able to balance it with posting, commenting, etc. but the secondary one has just kind of petered out. Probably because I never use that URL to comment or follow other blogs.
I can easily say that way less than half the people who were blogging when I started a year ago, are still doing it. People burn themselves out on it.
I have a few favorites I always pop into, and I always stop by the people who visit me, and as much as I'd love to make a career out of blog-hopping it isn't going to happen :D
Anytime I get an idea for a post, I write it down. It's rare that I'm writing something to be posted that day or the next day, but it happens. It took me a LONG time to be patient enough to do it, but it makes writing posts WAY shorter and easier.
We all juggle too much. All of us.
I'm the same way about blogging. My work schedule changes every week, which makes it hard to stick to a routine (if albeit impossible). If only there were 48 hours in a day....
I just don't sleep much. It's the only way I can fit in writing, blogging, a 50+ hour work week and spending time with my kids. And I don't always comment when I read a post. There just isn't time. Even with stealing the odd moment here and there at work...
Right now, I've gone down to M-W-F while I finish my revisions. I need the extra head space!
I've got a regular M-W-F posting schedule and I don't get really worked up about reading blogs and commenting every day. I try to pick a handful of different ones to comment on and read when I'm stuck with a baby on my lap.
I've learned that small steps are important. So is allowing myself wiggle room. I don't get to everything all the time, but I celebrate the things I do accomplish.
You guys all gave some excellent suggestions. I'm already on MWF schedule and only visit a few blogs at a time...but I should try to be more organized. So many people say they schedule posts out ahead of time. I've done that before, and it's nice. Maybe I'll just take an hour a week and try that.
Awww, Tamara! We love your blog <3
My secret is, do it when you can! Hence the reason for this late reply to your post :D
Don't stress over it though, my friend. If you don't feel like blogging, write a little instead. If you don't feel like writing, blog, or read a few blogs, or even just chill and enjoy the space. But never let it become a chore, that just takes the fun out of if. Be greedy, think of yourself and just do whatever takes your fancy :)
For now, I blog and comment on other blogs once a week. When school starts again, I might be able to increase that, but it works for me for the summer.
Do what you can. There's not one way to blog or write or mother. Do what works for you and your family.
This is why I've cut back to 2-3 days a week and take regular blog breaks. I love the blog community, but I have to make room for all the other things going on in my life too. It's all about prioritizing.
Blogging is a wonderful thing, but it is TIME consuming. I've had to set rules. My blog reader constantly tells me I have 600+ blogs to read. I've stopped stressing about it. I also stopped posting more than once per week because I couldn't commit the time away from my writing and my life. Do what works for you Tamara and make your own set of rules.
I'm here, reading when I can and dreaming about blogging. I've set a writing goal, and since I'm four weeks behind that is trumping everything that can be considered "discretionary."
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